Harry Potter: The Rise Chapter 29: The Black Inheritance, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 29 : The Black Inheritance

I do not own Harry Potter

Author's Notes :

1) Took me a little longer than expected, but here's the next chapter! I'll be wrapping up Year 3 in the next few chapters, already planned out and super pumped for Year 4.

2) For those who've been asking - yes the horcrux will have an effect on him, in more ways than one. I've implied that to be the case once or twice already, but it will start getting more pronounced soon.

Enjoy!

Previously

"...You would do this to Draco yet want me to believe you would so selflessly spare me from any consequences" she finally spoke up

"That's your sister, not me" Sirius answered blandly "There's benefit in bringing you over, alright. Always had a way with people, been helping Lucius get his fingers into a lotta pies over the years. And if I were to wager, dirt on a lot of people, always a handy to have... But most importantly - you were on the inside. You know just who was a Death Eater and who wasn't. I'm assuming you're smart enough to know old Voldie's still around."

The lack of reaction from the Malfoy was confirmation enough. He'd taken a risk in leaking that bit of information, but Narcissa was bound by silence so he wasn't too concerned. Besides, that bit of information played in their favor.

"And we'd bring Draco back in" added Andi, knowing what, or rather, who Narcissa's priority was. "If he does return, you know your son will have to join, whether he likes it or not... that or getting himself killed. Getting him away from Lucius is the only way you can protect him"

"Bold of you to assume he, or I, for that matter wish to switch sides"

"Fine, don't" Sirius answered simply "Just know this - your husband is doomed for sure once people realize he's been lying to them for years, the same guy, by the way, who will doom Draco as well. Speaking of him, Draco might worship his father, but he listens to you too. You come this way, at least there's a chance Malfoy Jr. turns out alright... That'll be all, Cissy."

A few minutes later

Andromeda was still seated, openly glaring at Sirius.

"Well it sure looks like you both catching up to do" Ted voiced with a nervous laugh "Kids, why don't we, umm-"

"-let Sirius get chewed out by Andi since we all know it's one of those gonna-happen-at-some-point-so-let's-just-get-it-outta-the-way-now" Harry said at once, mirthed by Sirius' visible angst

"You've been around Dora too much" sighed Theodore as he accompanied the two arrivals from Hogwarts out of the 'conference' room.

"Thanks for inviting me for the holidays, I-" Harry began once they were outside

"Nonsense, we love having you, you know that!" he told the Gryffindor with a pat on the shoulder. "That and you're my wife's boss so..." he added with a laugh

THUD! CLATTER!

"NO, YOU BLOODY BUFFON!" a voice echoed, before an irate Andi stomped out into hallway, and Ted could swear he saw steam coming out of her ears (well, that or he'd been watching cartoons all his life, which was probably more likely)

In an instant, her features reverted to the regal yet genial expression they were used to seeing. "I made lunch, come on kids!" she called out as she went into the kitchen. Sirius emerged from the soon after, sporting a blackening eye. "She's got a hell of a right cross, I'll give her that"

"What stupid thing did you say?" asked Harry between snickers

"Why do you assume it was something stu - you know what, yeah in hindsight... could've handled that better" he exhaled "She didn't say anything, actually. I said 'yeah, about the, well, you know, that... umm, I'd like to say...oops?'"

"OOPS?!" exclaimed Dora as all three listeners collectively facepalmed. "Yeah, huh, she didn't react, and I wasn't sure what to do... So I walked over to her, opened my arms and asked 'We're good, right?'... and well, you know the rest" he sighed as he cast and 'Episkey' to heal his bruise. "How poetic that this happens on my return to this darn place" he grumbled

For safety purposes, it was decided that everyone would be staying at Grimmauld Place, while the Tonks house in Brighton would simply serve as a front. With Pettigrew on the run, as well as the very real possibility of some Death Eaters getting some funny ideas, now that Harry's (as well as the Tonks') location was made public by the events over the summer. And not that the place they were at now was bad. Kreacher, ever the loyal elf, had taken it upon himself to restore the Black Manor to its former glory. This did mean Sirius was deprived of his joke of calling it a Grim-Old Place, but that was a trade he was content to make.

"Sirius, you're gonna want to check this out" said Harry as he motioned his godfather to follow him.

The all-familiar grin on the boy did caution Sirius, but he would be lying if he said he'd seen what was coming. As they made their way across the house, and over to the foyer, Sirius was greeted by none other than the portrait of Walburga Black.

"You've got to be kidding me" he muttered under his breath as his eyes bulged out of their sockets

"Ah, there he is" Padfoot saw 'that-devil-of-a-woman' greet Harry in the warmest voice he'd ever seen her do, making the previously mentioned eyeballs nearly roll back into his skull "Your Black ancestry manifests more and more every time I see you!"

"OH DROP THE ACT, YOU HAG!" yelled Sirius, who'd apparently had enough

"LOOK WHO COMES CRAWLING BACK!"

"WHAT GAMES ARE YOU PLAYING WITH HIM, YOU EVIL BITCH!"

"JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT DOESN'T MEAN EVERY HEIR IS ONE!" the portrait retorted "Harry here is a Parselmouth, he carries the blood of Slytherin in him! He's not some womanizing dunce who gets himself tricked by that pathetic excuse of a wizard, Pettigrew!"

"Ever think YOU'RE the reason for those 'womanizing' problems because your crazy ass made me so afraid of intimacy for years!"

"And now you're questioning MY upbringing? I carried you for nine months you ungrateful, little wretch!"

"Doesn't change the fact that you're a bigoted, hideous, cruel, batshit crazy woman!"

As the reunited mother and son continued volleying insults with no end in sight, Harry shook his head. Walburga was now fervently opposed to Riddle, once she was told how he was a half-blood and had almost brought extinction to the Black family. In fact, she was extremely nice to Harry once she realized he was a Parselmouth. But alas, at the end of the day, she was still... well, a hag.

Deciding it was for the better that Sirius get his years of pent up frustration out of the system, he let him continue with the shouting match unimpeded... That the other choice - rather than watching a traumatized war-veteran in desperate need of therapy vent out his mommy issues, he could be enjoying a delicious meal probably influenced his decision-making in that instant. He left just in time to catch Sirius claim he'd rather be mothered by Lady Tremaine from Cinderella.

While Andi still refused to make any conversation with her convict cousin, there was otherwise nothing but the wholesome holiday spirit Harry had always craved. He was almost giddy with anticipation for what would be his first true Christmas.

But first, there was work to be done.

The Wizengamot would be convening today, and for the first time, Harry would be attending the session, to witness the biggest PR disaster for Lucius Malfoy since being indicted in the Death Eater trials... perhaps bigger. Today would be the day they would be revealing that Draco Malfoy was in fact not in the line of succession for the Black lordship. The aim was creating enough bad press for the former Hogwarts governor for him to tank in the upcoming election, and then possibly poach some of his bloc as everyone would look to desert him - no one would want to be associated too closely with someone committing willful fraud, would they?

It was also time to make good on the promise Harry made at Gringotts - it was time to start working on getting Sirius acquitted.

Unfortunately, they couldn't reveal Sirius had made him his heir, as the only existing written proof of the fact was Regulus' letter, which also mentioned the horcruxes - something they couldn't afford to make public. Additionally, as it turned out, Arcturus hadn't told Sirius he was still the heir, which meant Sirius did not leave a record with the Black family manager upon attaining majority. In fact, owning very little himself, the young Sirius simply didn't make a will at all.

Speaking of the 'dogfather', today was also the day Sirius would be meeting with Remus Lupin. Despite Ted and Dora's offers to help mediate, the dog animagus requested to speak with his fellow Marauder alone. Once he waved off the rest of the manor's inhabitants, he sat down in the dining room with a bottle of Firewhisky.

"Kreacher, get me a glass!" he called out to the resident house-elf, who popped in with a crack, and swiftly made the requested item materialize on the table.

"Bad master now drinks 'fore the sun even be overhead... oh Mistress, Kreacher is happy Mistress have not to see the disappointment disappoint her further" the elderly elf grumbled, though loudly (and purposefully so) enough for Sirius to hear.

"What did you say to me, you little shit" he squinted at the elf, who did not hold back. "Master breaks Kreacher's Mistress' heart, runs away. Master be disappointment for running away, bad for breaking Kreacher's Mistress' heart. Kreacher does not like him, but his Good Young Master who avenged Good Master Regulus commands him to serve the bad master. Old Kreacher makes the sacrifice, despise the deserter he may, but he be a good elf, loyal to his good master" following his acidic rant, Kreacher shifted his tone to the familiar house-elf speech "Does bad master need Kreacher to serve?"

"Bugger off" barked Sirius as he poured himself a glass of Ogden's finest while waiting on Lupin.

It gave him time to retrospect on the happenings over the last couple of days. So far, he'd had a mixed response to his 'homecoming'. His childhood at Grimmauld Place had been... difficult, so much so that he had ran away.

Of course there was the primary perpetrator - Walburga, but she could've never have isolated him like that alone. Orion Black, his father was also to blame for never having the courage to stand up to his wife. There were of course, the many other relatives that together inhabited the manor, but Sirius wasn't their responsibility, but Orion's.

The one the animagus felt the most resentment towards was, however, his grandfather. He'd been extremely close to Arcturus as a child, before the patriarch inexplicably withdrew from society around his third year, and Sirius would never meet him again. The only way he even knew that the Grindelwald war veteran was even alive was through the short letters he would send whenever family councils would convene... One of his agendas for the upcoming year would be investigating Arcturus' peculiar absence, even as the family tore itself apart.

'Even if he didn't kick me and Andi out solely for the purpose of making sure the family survived no matter which side won... why did he sit the entire thing out? If history was any proof, Arcturus was never one to cower down from a fight, but here, he'd left JUST BEFORE anybody in the family even picked sides. The isolation is almost too perfect to be unintentional... Maybe he-'

"Hello, Sirius" the greeting snapped him out of his reverie.

It was Remus Lupin, looking haggard as ever, but decently dressed thanks to his Hogwarts job. "Remus" he replied uneasily as he stood up. The underlying tension wasn't missed by either.

"...I'm sorry" Lupin eventually managed

"Why? You didn't do anything"

"I took you for a traitor"

"So did I" pointed out Sirius

Lupin let out a laugh. "You thought I was the mole, I thought you were the mole"

"How did none of us ever suspect Pettigrew" wondered Padfoot

"We didn't think him capable"

"Last time that ever happens"

"Goddamn right" growled the werewolf

"Well, looks like we can still agree on something after all" mused Padfoot "How've you been, old friend?"

"Lately? Exceptionally well. Would've liked to reconnected better with young Harry, but I suppose it should never have come to that" the Professor surmised

Sirius scrunched up his face "Yeah, it shouldn't have... Though I'm no one to judge you, I didn't leave until 12 years later either"

"No, Sirius" Lupin shook his head "No one forced me to desert everyone other than myself... You, on the other hand, found yourself surrounded by dozens of dementors sucking the life out of you every day, all day... that would leave anyone debilitated. I made several mistakes Sirius, ones I'm eager to redeem myself for."

"You mean that?"

"I do" Remus replied resolvedly "You have no reason to trust me today, no matter how many speeches I make... but actions speak louder than words. Give me a chance to earn your faith back"

Sirius saw the earnest in the eyes of his old friend, and shades of the brilliant wizard who didn't look at his life as cursed by his lycanthropy, but rather blessed by his friends. A man only made stronger by the weights pulling him down... Remus Lupin had truly returned.

"Welcome back, Moony"

"I had the house elf observe your dueling practice" Lucius informed his son, whom he had summoned in his study. "I was displeased to hear you have not improved at all since the summer. If anything, you seem to be slower" he remarked stiffly

"F-Father, like I told you, I-I haven't b-been f-feeling too well r-recently" answered a nervous Draco, his behavior a paradigm shift from the boy who would currently be mocking a certain Gryffindor for the same speech impediment.

"Ah yes, the mysterious illness" the Wizengamot lord drawled "Conveniently appearing a few days after the announcement of a dueling club"

"F-Father, I'm not m-making it up to save face in case I d-don't get in, I -"

"Which I would not accept in any case, as the school mediwitch AND two separate healers have diagnosed you with absolutely nothing... My leniency seems to have made you complacent" hissed the death eater

"C-Complacent?"

"Indeed. Not only did you once again find yourself behind a mudblood, but now, Potter, that Weasley, mudblood and creature loving halfblood seems to have overtaken you in a majority of the subjects"

'Potter always gets favored by the teachers! That Flitwick even gives him special classes, it's all rigged in his favor!" objected Draco

"And you don't?" retorted an angering Lucius "Severus tells me you spent half a class trying to sabotage Potter's cauldron, leaving your own so neglected it would have exploded if not for him discreetly stepping in. Then there is the matter of your attendance, Snape says you're barely making the requirement to sit the exams at this point!"

"It's because I don't feel well! I don't know what, but something is wrong!"

"Enough!" Lucius yelled, making Draco squirm "Laziness and Insincerity are the only things wrong with you. You will pick up the pace and make sure I never have to listen to such a humiliating evaluation of my own son again! And start practicing, I will not have you embarrass me by failing to make the dueling club... Now get out of my sight" he dismissed Draco, who primly walked out.

He sent out three letters. One to Theodore Nott Sr., to issue the whip for the voting today, the second to a business partner in Belgium concerning his luxury goods business, and a final to Benedict Greengrass with an 'expression of disappointment over his seeming lack of willingness' in the negotiations for their 'agreement'.

Following brunch with an unusually quiet Narcissa, he flooed to the Minister for Magic's private network, being one of the few with direct access to Fudge's office, and the two entered the Chamber of the Wizengamot together, symbolic of his status.

He did not notice Harry Potter's predatory stare from the gallery above.

"All rise for the Chief Warlock!" the clerk's voice boomed across the chamber as Albus Dumbledore made his way up to chair he had occupied since the end of the First Wizarding War, seating himself following a curt bow to the House.

"The 3904th Wizengamot will now come to order!" he announced with a bang of his gavel, as the House officially went into session. "Are there any Zero Hour motions on the floor?"

A 'Zero Hour' motion could be raised for an issue of such paramount importance that the Wizengamot needed to address it as urgently and quickly as possible. If passed, all regular procedure would be suspended, and the motion would go on indefinitely until collapsed by vote. Seeing no motions proposed, Dumbledore proceeded as was common practice.

"Minister's Question Time will now commence. Members wishing to pose questions to the Ministry, may now do so. I request the hon'ble members to maintain decorum and hold their questions till they are recognized and refrain from interrupting their fellow speakers... The House recognizes Regent Longbottom!"

"Thank you, Chief Warlock" acknowledged DMLE Director and the sitting Regent for the Most Noble & Ancient House of Longbottom, one of Britain's '8' families. "I ask as the Chairperson of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, why hasn't the Ministry yet approved the release of funds despite the Board's resolution?"

Harry phased out as a woman that looked like a toad began answering in what was the shrillest voice he'd ever heard. The 'Minister's Questions' was a constitutional convention; it hadn't been mentioned anywhere in Magical Britain's (uncodified) constitution, but being a practice for over 300 years, had been ruled by the Wizengamot to be mandatorily be observed at the start of each session. It was similar to 'Prime Minister's Question Hour' observed by the muggle Parliament.

Questions rolled in one after the other, some important such as the Ministry's policy following the Downing Street Declaration, and the possibility that muggle Northern Ireland might cede from the Union and join Ireland. Others were less so, like Elphias Doge inquiring about the course of action following his independent report that the quality of beetroot being imported into the country had declined year-on-year.

Once the time limit collapsed, the floor was opened for general motions. First on the list was, carried forward after the session elapsed, the The Use of Magic in Non-Magical Environment (Amendment) Bill, 1993. As expected, the Bill failed to clear the house, with their bloc siding with the traditionalists to reject it, though Andi did remark how she encouraged the tabling of a more 'equitable' legislation, and that 'overcriminalization' must be avoided.

The next agenda was a discussion on a Free-Trade Agreement with MACUSA, followed by lunch break. To avoid giving anything away for the time being, Harry had his clothes charmed to look like casuals, and wore a baseball cap with sunglasses. After a quiet meal in Andi's office, he headed back to the gallery, still unrecognized. He took a seat a corner seat, sitting down next to someone from Benedict's staff.

It was another two hours or so before it was finally showtime.

"And last on my roll, an 'urgent' application I received yesterday morning for investigation into gross misconduct & fraud against Lord Malfoy, filed by jointly by Lord Greengrass, representing House Greengrass and..." Dumbledore paused. He looked over to Benedict & Andromeda, then to Malfoy, and finally over to the gallery. "...and House Black"

Pandemonium.

Cries of objection and excited discussion broke out, as Dumbledore and his clerical staff attempted to re-establish order, gavel bangs, cannonball & siren charms being used in abundance.

"Indeed, we are all curious as to what is going on... Lord Greengrass, perhaps you could enlighten us?"

"Much obliged, Chief Warlock" replied Benedict as he rose from his seat and walked to the central podium. "My respected colleagues, I, like many believed Draco Malfoy, Lord Malfoy's son to be next in line to inherit the Black lordship, which currently lies vacant, upon his majority. In fact, Lord Malfoy has sought to enter into at least one contract based on that very premise, and I'm sure some of us can recall him mentioning his son's inheritance upon his first election to this august body... It made sense, did it not? With Sirius Black kicked out years prior & Regulus Black reported dead during the war, and their father Orion passing away in 1984, the line of succession would pass onto the only remaining 'cousin' branch, specifically the daughters of Cygnus & Druella Black - Andromeda, Narcissa & Bellatrix."

"Get to the point, Greengrass!" someone heckled from Lucius' camp.

"Of course" acquiesced Benedict "Lucius Malfoy has been falsely misrepresenting to me, and who knows how many others, his family as the successors to the Black legacy... Draco Malfoy is not the Heir Apparent, in fact, he isn't even part of the Black family!"

"Preposterous!"

"Watch your mouth, Greengrass!"

"I knew that Malfoy was a lying wretch!"

"ORDERRRR!" Dumbledore yelled with his sonorus enhanced voice, before non-verbally nullifying the spell "Indeed, shocking claims, but chaos will not lead us to answers. The next member breaching the Code of Conduct will be suspended from the rest of the session" he warned sternly "Anything else you wish to add, Lord Greengrass?"

"No, Chief Warlock" the main in question replied with a bow, barely concealing a grin

"Very well, then. While legal disputes are generally handled by the Judiciary, the Wizengamot may, assume a judicial capacity accorded to it under Article 29 (c) of the Wizarding Council Act, 1845. The allegation is willful misrepresentation, fraud and line theft against Lord Lucius Malfoy, Warlock of the Wizengamot. All those in favor of this body adjudicating the case?"

A parallel from the start of the session was noticeable. Once again, voting went along partisan lines; every single wizard on the Progressives raised their wands in favor. However, this time, Andi, and the rest of the Wizengamot' s newest faction voted with them, with the Fawley group also in support. Even some Traditionalists voted in favor.

"77 Aye's" announced a clerk

"A clear majority" acknowledged the Chief Warlock "Lord Lucius Malfoy, let this serve as notice that this Council has agreed to take up the case presented to it moments ago. You have the right to remain silent, and this point onward, anything you say can and will be held against you by this august body. A copy of the application will be served to you now, and you will have 15 days to file a written reply." the ancient wizard informed him, as one of the guards whispered something into his ear.

"Chief Warlock" a pensive Lucius spoke up "I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly... who represents the House of Black, and under what capacity?"

"As is your right" agreed Dumbledore "Conveniently for us, as our staff informs me, the representative is present in person today - at the entrance to this in fact... Langdon, perhaps you could escort them?"

An internally fuming Lucius spun his cane in his hands as he processed the full extent of this potential catastrophe... Not just Greengrass, he would probably be losing a few more business partners who had been banking on Draco's inheritance. Allies would desert him like a sinking ship, not wanting to associate with a fraud. He was also looking at spending a good fortune to keep his contacts tight, and all of this mess was apart from the fact that his chances of re-election had just gone down the drain. 'So Draco's illness is real after all... he's lost some magic since being removed from the family'

All eyes were on the entrance as the sound of footsteps became more pronounced... The pin-drop silence being a mere calm before the storm as a boy with an all-familiar scar walked into their midst.

Cheer, clamor, surprise and obscenity all rained down upon the Wizengamot as recognition dawned upon its members - it was Harry Potter.

This time Dumbledore didn't even bother to try and silence the council until well after a minute, taking the time to observe the chamber first. On 'his' side of the spectrum, there was, naturally, shock, though most seemed largely content with the new development, no doubt wondering what could have been - the Black Family sat amongst the Progressives. There was rapid whispering, no doubt full of explanations and possible theories.

Also predictably, the Traditionalists were livid. What was interesting was that the ire seemed to be directed not just towards Harry, but towards Lucius.

Dumbledore momentarily scolded himself for not keeping in mind that the Traditionalists weren't just Death Eater extremists who evaded prison, many were merely firm believers of 'Magi-Nationalism' and Culturalism, and functioned as a regular 'right', something every society possessed.

What was interesting to him was the startled expression on even those part of the centrists. As far as he could see, only Andi (and Benedict, naturally), seemed to be in the know - and Fawley, in a bid to entice a merger perhaps.

Dumbledore eventually ejected 3 members - one from each faction for breaching the Code of Conduct. Harry spoke when cleared to by his headmaster. "Please identify yourself for the record, and for Lord Malfoy's benefit"

"Harry Potter, Acting Head of Family"

A section of the gallery began to cheer, but Dumbledore silenced then with a glare. Then, with the brightest of twinkles in his eyes, the Chief Warlock announced "As time has elapsed and no motion to extend or any reason for discretionary extension, I declare this session closed!" he spoke jovially "Unless in case of emergency, the Wizengamot shall convene on January 10th, my heartiest wishes for the holidays!"

And with a final bang of his gavel, Dumbledore, in full lawful exercise of his powers, ended proceedings for the day, walking out while passing holiday wishes.

Even Lucius had to chortle at that, though perhaps unpredictability was Albus Dumbledore's only predictable behavioral pattern. Without a word to anyone, he swiftly left, his already deathly pallor even more devoid of color.

"Well you had better call a press conference" a heartily laughing Benedict told them in farewell, who, in inspiration from the Hogwarts headmaster, decided to let everyone spin, especially the media "I'm not saying anything until after the holidays!" he'd told them

"Any chance we can do that too?" asked Harry, hastily adding an "I'm kidding!" as he followed Andi to a conference hall.

And that's a wrap! See you all next time!